Solid Journey (Update 2)

[Taffey]

Don't you ever run out of awesome sauce?

Killer level here Spark. (Hmm, should I just make a shortcut key for that?) I didn't love Visiting the Canyons as much as I do I'd say Solid Journey was your best yet. It may still be your best level, actually, but that's a tough call.... A tie perhaps?

You've kind of come back to your roots with this level, so to speak, with the distinctly Metroid-flavored gameplay. The very best part of your level overall is the different environments you travel through - each area feels completely different from the one before it. The puzzles and platforming are ingenious and fun as always, and the sliding cave section is excellent. Everything in the caves is good, in fact, including the speech bubble you added to help the player get un-stuck from the small dead end area on the return trip to the lab. The lava chase/race is mind-blowingly cool and really nicely implemented. After completing the level the first time I immediately replayed it just to do the lava chase again. Great job with the stickers and the environment in that area in particular.

I don't have loads of complaints, but I'll throw a couple your way regardless. There isn't much of a story here, and although there doesn't really need to be I would have liked some slightly better reasons for venturing out, returning to the lab, and killing monsters. This isn't a necessity by any stretch, but it's the first thing that came to mind when I played this, so consider it a first impression minor point kind of thing. Once the player hits that incredible lava scene all will be forgiven. I had no problem with the tentacle monster at all and getting the door to open. I did have the tiniest problem hitting the eyeball on the tentacle on the back layer. The thin material that makes up the "eyeball" blocks Sackboy from switching layers to the rear. If you could have the creature brain peek out from behind the "eyeball" just the smallest amount that would solve the problem. That may compromise the looks though, and for what it's worth there really isn't any issue here at all. The last thing I noticed was in one of the longer speech bubbles towards the end of the level. In two different places in the speech bubble you say "were" when instead you meant to say "we're".

Great job again Spark, you never cease to amaze. 5 stars and a heart easily!

[Spark151]

Taffey:

Killer level here Spark. (Hmm, should I just make a shortcut key for that?) I didn't love Visiting the Canyons as much as I do I'd say Solid Journey was your best yet. It may still be your best level, actually, but that's a tough call.... A tie perhaps?

Hahah, it's fine. Each level I make, I try to make it better than the rest.

You've kind of come back to your roots with this level, so to speak, with the distinctly Metroid-flavored gameplay. The very best part of your level overall is the different environments you travel through - each area feels completely different from the one before it. The puzzles and platforming are ingenious and fun as always, and the sliding cave section is excellent.

Have a good taste of each environment because you see new ones in my next level(s).... maybe....

The lava chase/race is mind-blowingly cool and really nicely implemented. After completing the level the first time I immediately replayed it just to do the lava chase again.

That seems to be mostly everyone's favorite part. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

There isn't much of a story here, and although there doesn't really need to be I would have liked some slightly better reasons for venturing out, returning to the lab, and killing monsters.

You're right, I didn't really work out the storyline. Maybe part two will explain things more clearer?

The thin material that makes up the "eyeball" blocks Sackboy from switching layers to the rear. If you could have the creature brain peek out from behind the "eyeball" just the smallest amount that would solve the problem.

Will work on this.

The last thing I noticed was in one of the longer speech bubbles towards the end of the level. In two different places in the speech bubble you say "were" when instead you meant to say "we're".

Spot on! I forgot that word existed literally, I feel dumb now :\

[Spark151]

I can't publish the changes any more.
My level became corrupted.
Well, I saved copies for the level, but I deleted them figuring I won't need them any more. I guess I was wrong :\

[Taffey]

Copy your already-published version. Go to the Community Moon, download it, then go to your downloaded levels and copy to My Moon. Solved!

[Spark151]

Copy your already-published version. Go to the Community Moon, download it, then go to your downloaded levels and copy to My Moon. Solved!

Oh wow... Now I feel even more dumb.
Thanks Taffey, I didn't know the author can copy his/her own level

[Taffey]

No worries! I discovered that purely by accident a couple of months ago. I think that was a feature they added with 2.02.

I'm just glad you got your level back.

[tominater12]

First off I loved this a lot more than I did your last level. I really felt this one flowed so much better and just had better scenery and gameplay. Now one of my favorite parts was when you were about to end the level and opened up a tunnel for it to be even longer. I felt it had great length with my playthrough clocking in at about 10 minutes. There was one issue I found is that in the rising lava section it is actually possible to go inside it the middle of the lava and get stuck. Other than that it was a fantastic level. I gave it 5 stars and a heart.

[Spark151]

First off I loved this a lot more than I did your last level. I really felt this one flowed so much better and just had better scenery and gameplay. Now one of my favorite parts was when you were about to end the level and opened up a tunnel for it to be even longer. I felt it had great length with my playthrough clocking in at about 10 minutes. There was one issue I found is that in the rising lava section it is actually possible to go inside it the middle of the lava and get stuck. Other than that it was a fantastic level. I gave it 5 stars and a heart.

I'm glad you enjoyed the level, but that issue you gone through is something I can't fix.
I can try to avoid it, but I can't fix it.
Thanks again.

[spok22]

Hey spark151 I Played this level and I thought it was AWESOME. I'll have to do a review on it later because i don't feel like typing up an entire review on my iPod. Also I noticed that you thanked me. Your welcome. It's nice to hear that my work can actually be inspiring to such a skilled creator as you. :b

[memorex]

Hey Spark151!

Very good level, I’m impressed with each area. You made an excellent job with the art style throughout, the mechanisms were very amazing, I really liked, my favorite part was when you have to go up above evading the lava, also when you have to shoot in the spaceship, excellent level, I gave you 5 stars and hearted as a creator, because I like your others levels.

[Spark151]

spok22:

Also I noticed that you thanked me. Your welcome. It's nice to hear that my work can actually be inspiring to such a skilled creator as you. :b

Yes, your level inspired me to add the volcano area to the map. With out you, this area of the level wouldn't exist. :\

memorex:

Very good level, I’m impressed with each area. You made an excellent job with the art style throughout, the mechanisms were very amazing

It's be awesome if you got a chance to see the mechanisms because they are all over the map

my favorite part was when you have to go up above evading the lava

Isn't that everybody's favorite part?

[Spark151]

New changes to the level.
The lava chase is fixed. (Because you could fall directly inside the lava without dieing)
Speech bubble fixed, like Taffey mentioned.
Made eye thinner by a little bit. Like Taffey mentioned.
I think I fixed something else... Anyways there shouldn't be more problems.
MAJOR UPGRADE This is an apology for republishing the level 3 times so far.
I added an extra part to the level. (Meet a new guy, "Virus")

By the way, these changes were made like 10 hours ago, but I didn't bother to post them now.
So, Spok22 and memorex, you two probably played the new version.
While others are missing out!

[spok22]

I didn't play the new v but downloading now. I'll give u feedback tommoro asap.

[jeffcu28•]

Hey Spark,

Congratulations on your fourth Spotlight! I don't know how you manage to crank up so many quality levels in a short amount of time, but I'm glad everyone can amply enjoy your creativity. Anyways, I was so happy you returned to the Metroid-esque style of your earlier levels, but this one felt more wholesome than the actual levels in the Metroid series. You successfully merged breathtaking scenery with revolutionary gameplay, and I had fun from start to finish. Great job, and please continue to crank up more levels!

Shooting some alien baddies,
jeffcu28

[SalieriAAX]

Well, I can't believe it took me so long to actually play this level, and what a level it is!

I really liked the characters and the dialogue, it actually makes you feel like part of the team. The training section at the beginning was nice and didn't take too long so that you were able to get into the action pretty quickly. I played this level twice yesterday and already I can't remember all of your puzzles, but the circular rock ramps were awesome, and I really liked the rising lava challenge as well.

I kind of feel like this is a sort of spiritual successor to your Metroid level, but worked into a more original theme and with more engageing enemies and puzzles.

You also have some really nice environments here. However - and I only really mention this because it seems like the done thing to throw a couple of bits of criticism into some feedback - there are points where the detail in the environment drops a bit. That said I can understand why this must be, because you managed to squeeze a very decent length out of the thermo.

Overall, then, I think you've done a really great job on this level. The dialogue, characters and gameplay challenges are all very well balanced to create a very satisfying end product.

S